Based on a global comparative analysis, an aspiring goal for parliaments in the area of “gender mainstreaming” is as follows:

• A commitment to gender mainstreaming is publicly manifested in parliamentary rules, strategic planning documents and practices. Parliament regularly monitors and reports on its performance on gender mainstreaming.
• Parliament has established a gender equality committee or other dedicated body with a mandate to scrutinize legislation and oversee the executive from a gender perspective. Mechanisms exist to support the mainstreaming of a gender perspective in the work of all parliamentary committees.
• National women’s groups, gender rights advocates, CSOs, the private sector, academia and other outside sources of expertise are routinely consulted in the work of parliament and its committees.
• Parliament participates in the preparation and presentation of national reports to international bodies including the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW Committee) and holds debates on the resulting recommendations.
• Training on gender issues is provided for all MPs. Parliamentary research and committee staff have the capacity to provide expert analysis and briefings on gender issues, including gender statistics and sex-disaggregated data.

Based on a global comparative analysis, an aspiring goal for parliaments in the area of “impact assessments” is as follows:

• Impact assessments of the positive and negative effects of proposals for laws on different groups in society are an established part of the law-making process.
• Parliament has the necessary expertise, among parliamentary staff, advisory bodies or external experts, to analyse impact assessments reports or to conduct or commission its own impact assessments.
• The findings and reports of impact assessments, whether carried out by parliament or by the executive, are made available to MPs and the public. 

Based on a global comparative analysis, an aspiring goal for parliaments in the area of “human rights” is as follows:

• Parliament has a mandate to debate and ratify international human rights treaties, and to ensure that the national legal framework is consistent with international human rights obligations.
• Parliament has one or more specialized committees responsible for human rights, with powers to assess legislation and government policy and action, and to ensure their compatibility with human rights obligations.
• The NHRI is established in law and has the necessary mandate and resources to carry out its work. Its relationship with parliament is in line with the Belgrade principles on the relationship between national human rights institutions and parliaments.
• Parliament has a clear role in the different stages of the reporting procedures to the UN Human Rights Council under its universal periodic review and to the UN human rights treaty bodies. It contributes to the preparation and presentation of national reports and the implementation of subsequent recommendations.

Based on a global comparative analysis, an aspiring goal for parliaments in the area of “leaving no one behind and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” is as follows:

• Parliament debates and scrutinizes national development plans and government reports to ensure alignment with, and localization of, the SDGs.
• Parliament incorporates an SDG lens into its legislative work and at all stages of the budget cycle. Mechanisms exist to oversee SDG progress and support SDG mainstreaming in parliament.
• Parliament is represented in national SDG coordination mechanisms and participates in the preparation of, and follow-up to, the voluntary national reviews. 

Based on a global comparative analysis, an aspiring goal for parliaments in the area of “responding to emerging policy issues” is as follows:

• Parliament’s rules of procedure allow for flexibility when new policy issues emerge, enabling issues to be raised with the appropriate parliamentary body at short notice.
• Parliament uses its oversight powers to hold the executive to account for the response to emerging policy issues.
• Parliament effectively communicates with the public about the actions taken in response to emerging policy issues.

Based on a global comparative analysis, an aspiring goal for parliaments in the area of “responding to public concerns” is as follows:

• Parliament’s rules of procedure establish a range of mechanisms for the public to bring issues of concern to the attention of parliament, such as petitions.
• The parliamentary administration processes input received from the public in a timely manner and makes it available in appropriate formats for MPs’ consideration.
• Issues brought to the attention of parliament are given due consideration. The members of the public who raised the issue receive feedback on how their input was handled. 

Based on a global comparative analysis, an aspiring goal for parliaments in the area of “media access to parliament” is as follows:

• Parliament’s rules of procedure guarantee access for the media to the parliamentary building and to all venues where parliamentary proceedings take place, regardless of media type, ownership, political leaning or similar. Any restrictions on media access are limited, proportional and imposed on reasonable grounds.
• Parliament has a credentialling system in place to facilitate media access to parliament.
• Parliament provides media outlets with appropriate space, infrastructure and technical support to carry out their work.
• In practice, media outlets have access to the parliamentary premises, and can report freely on parliamentary activities.

Based on a global comparative analysis, an aspiring goal for parliaments in the area of “access for persons with disabilities” is as follows:

• The legal framework requires parliament to ensure access for persons with disabilities to the parliamentary premises and to parliamentary proceedings.
• Parliament ensures that, in practice, there are no barriers to access the parliamentary premises for persons with disabilities.
• Parliament makes information about parliamentary proceedings, as well as parliamentary publications, available in formats that facilitate access for persons with disabilities.
• Parliament consults regularly with civil society organizations to seek input and advice about ensuring that parliament is accessible to all people, regardless of disability.

Based on a global comparative analysis, an aspiring goal for parliaments in the area of “institutional development of parliament” is as follows:

• Parliament has a strategic plan for its institutional development, which sets out a long-term vision and goals and actions to achieve them. Strategic planning is an inclusive process and the plan is regularly reviewed and updated.
• Responsibility for institutional development is clearly allocated within parliament, and the parliamentary administration has established teams to support institutional development.
• Parliament has endorsed the Common Principles for Support to Parliaments, which are used in practice by parliament and its partners.
• Parliament has an M&E system to track progress and identify where adjustments are needed.
• Parliament encourages a culture of innovation that allows new processes to be tested and, where appropriate, incorporated into its work. 
   

Based on a global comparative analysis, an aspiring goal for parliaments in the area of “professionalism of the parliamentary administration” is as follows:

• The legal framework requires the development of code(s) of ethics, standards and conduct for parliamentary staff.
• Such code(s) exist in practice, apply to all parliamentary staff, and set out clear expectations on professionalism and ethical conduct, on respect for parliament, its staff and the people they serve, and on integrity, accountability and impartiality.
• There is a clearly defined and robust process for the filing and independent investigation of complaints concerning alleged breaches of the code(s), with sanctions applied where such complaints are upheld.
• The parliamentary administration has a professional development framework that promotes an ethos of parliamentary service and ensures that staff have the skills and knowledge to support the institutional continuity of parliament.